Meridian Farm and Forge

This limited buckle combines our popular Barbed Wire and Wrought Buckles into a new and unique style. Barbed wire from the farm is forged over a wrought iron plate that is made from roughly 150 year old wrought iron forged down from a limited number of wagon tires left on our farm.

 If you're unfamiliar, 'tires' on these wagons weren't rubber, but a wrought iron rim that attached to the circumference of a wooden spoked wheel.  These tires are pretty robust, being about 1" thick and perhaps 3" wide.  Specifically, our tires came from abandoned Winona Wagon Company wagons that were left on our property amongst a variety of other broken down vehicles from throughout the ages.

Winona Wagon Company operated from 1879 to 1925 and was one of the most prominent wagon makers of the time due to the craftsmanship, aesthetics and reliability of their products.  At their peak, W.W.Co. produced roughly 50,000 wagons each year and were used across the west; hauling corn in Iowa, ore in Nevada, potatoes in Idaho and lumber in California.... and probably a lot of other places too!    In 1925, wagon makers couldn't keep up with the advent of the automobile and wagon remains began to litter farms and ranches (like ours!)  We have the remains of a couple of these wagons that were no doubt used for earlier settlement in western Montana.  

The buckle is fairly simple, but has a unique story given the use and age of the metal (at this point, the iron was likely smelted in the 1870's and employed at WWCo in the 1880's).  Wrought iron, when forged, can show its 'layers', which are just simply layers of iron apparent through its original manufacture.  The layers present natural horizons and cracks in the finished piece that are unique, rustic and characteristic of wrought iron.  Every buckle is different due to natural variations in the tires as well as the hand-forging process.

On the back is printed "WWCo" and "Circa 1880" in association with the metal's history.  Available in black or with a subtle brass highlight over the barbed wire. Buckle size is available in our smaller dimension (3.5” X 1.9”), but can made with a bale to fit either 1.25” or 1.5” belt widths.

Made to order . Pieces will vary.

Our Barbed Wire Belt Buckle is by far our most popular buckle! We take barbed wire from the farm and repurpose it into the creation of these unique buckles. Scroll down to see a short video on the creation of our barbed wire buckles.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

A more sweeping version of our barbed wire buckle is forged over a plate embellished with carved grasses. We take barbed wire from the farm and repurpose it into the creation of these unique buckles. Scroll down to see a short video on the creation of our barbed wire buckles.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

Here our original barbed wire buckle gains a little more dimension by being set over carved ‘fence posts’. We take barbed wire from the farm and repurpose it into the creation of these unique buckles. Scroll down to see a short video on the creation of our barbed wire buckles.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

Our Welded Panels Belt Buckle is created by welding strips of steel together and then forging the weld beads flat into the surrounding plate. This technique produces an interesting texture and contrast between the smooth steel plate and rough splatter of the ‘sloppy’ weld. Pick amongst 4 finishes (black, dark brass (copperish), bright brass and running of the oxidation colors of steel).

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

This unique and limited buckle is made from roughly 150 year old wrought iron forged down from a limited number of wagon tires left on our farm.

 If you're unfamiliar, 'tires' on these wagons weren't rubber, but a wrought iron rim that attached to the circumference of a wooden spoked wheel.  These tires are pretty robust, being about 1" thick and perhaps 3" wide.  Specifically, our tires came from abandoned Winona Wagon Company wagons that were left on our property amongst a variety of other broken down vehicles from throughout the ages.

Winona Wagon Company operated from 1879 to 1925 and was one of the most prominent wagon makers of the time due to the craftsmanship, aesthetics and reliability of their products.  At their peak, W.W.Co. produced roughly 50,000 wagons each year and were used across the west; hauling corn in Iowa, ore in Nevada, potatoes in Idaho and lumber in California.... and probably a lot of other places too!    In 1925, wagon makers couldn't keep up with the advent of the automobile and wagon remains began to litter farms and ranches (like ours!)  We have the remains of a couple of these wagons that were no doubt used for earlier settlement in western Montana.  

The buckle is fairly simple, but has a unique story given the use and age of the metal (at this point, the iron was likely smelted in the 1870's and employed at WWCo in the 1880's).  Wrought iron, when forged, can show its 'layers', which are just simply layers of iron apparent through its original manufacture.  The layers present natural horizons and cracks in the finished piece that are unique, rustic and characteristic of wrought iron.  Every buckle is different due to natural variations in the tires as well as the hand-forging process.

On the back is printed "WWCo" and "Circa 1880" in association with the metal's history.  Available in Matte Black. Buckle size is available on in our smaller dimensions (3.5” X 1.9”), but can made with a bale to fit either 1.25” or 1.5” belt widths.

Wolf Prints is made through careful hot-stamping into the belt buckle plate. The buckle is then further forged and fabricated to create a buckle that celebrates these our canid friends.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

Our Waves belt buckle pattern is forged using the edge of a heavy hand sledge to create overlapping semi-circles across the belt buckle plate.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

A new design at Meridian Forge. During forging, we fold steel plate over itself to create a series of overlapping creases. The result is a unique interplay of raised, overlapping lines on the belt buckle surface that creates an awesome texture and beautiful contrast. Similar to many of our other buckles, ‘The Folded’ is available in our two sizes (M and L) and can be made for 1.25” or 1.5” belt widths. Choose amongst 4 finishes: Matte Black (shown), Bright Brass Highlight (shown), Dark Brass Highlight and Oxidation Colors. Belt buckles are made to order and will vary from piece to piece.

Our Crossroads buckle is made from round steel stock that is welded, twisted and then forged. Due to the forged nature of these buckles, pieces will vary. The piece is roughly 3.5” long X 2” wide and is finished in either black (not shown) or brass highlights. Also made for either 1.5” or 1.25” belt widths.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries.

The ElkHorn Belt Buckle is made by carefully hot-stamping an elk-rack engraving into the belt buckle plate. The buckle is then further forged and fabricated to create a buckle that celebrates these amazing creatures.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

The Aspen Forest Belt Buckle is made using a fullering tool across the belt buckle plate creating a variety of grooves. Altogether, they resemble the overlapping trunks of an aspen grove.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

Our new grasslands buckle is inspired by our fertile pastures. We are lucky to graze our animals in the tall flowing grasses that grace our fields through each spring, summer and fall.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

We offer a few styles of Zia buckles in our two standard sizes and various finishes to honor our New Mexico Roots! These buckle styles include our:

• Land of Enchantment Buckle | This is simply the NM Zia Symbol on our plate buckles

• Zia Mountain Peaks | Here we hand carve some more jagged peaks representing the southern Sangre de Christo range and set the Zia as a rising sun.

• Zia Rolling Hills | Similar to above, but with more rolling hills to represent the foothills of the Sandia Range, with a similar rising Zia sun.
  

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are identical. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries.

Similar to our original Barbed Wire Buckle, here we texture the plate with hammer blows to create unique contrast between the wire and the plate. We take barbed wire from the farm and repurpose it into the creation of these unique buckles. Scroll down to see a short video on the creation of our barbed wire buckles.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted singularly or in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are the same. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries

Please Note: On buckle size and belt width, the smaller buckle can be made for either belt width, however the larger buckle can only be made for a 1.5” belt width.

These unique and custom belt buckles celebrate mountain summits. I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of mountaineering pursuits and am excited to meld that passion with my blacksmith work. In essence, our plate style buckles are rendered with hand-chiseled elevation contours representing your summit or area of choice. The name and elevation of the peak are stamped on the backside of the buckle. These are custom pieces and are made to order. Please note that not all summit contour representations are possible to hand-chisel. Example photos show:

• Sky Pilot Peak, Bitterroot Range, Montana

• Truchas Peak, Sangre de Cristo Range, New Mexico

• Sandia Crest, Sandia Mountains, New Mexico

• Superstition Peak, Superstition Mountains, Arizona

• Threlkeld Pass, Wind Rivers, Wyoming

• Cooper Spur, Mt. Hood, Oregon

A new belt buckle design at Meridian Forge. A robust prong buckle made by forge-welding overlapping steel rods. Interesting texture is presented at the intersections as well where the round bar is flattened out. It has a ‘skeletal’ element to it. Available in matte black or polished steel (shown) with a contrasting copper barb. Currently only made for 1.5” belts. Pieces are made to order and will vary.

This is our favorite prong-style buckle. Cross pean hammer marks along the edge result in an interesting, forged texture; accenting your belt choice. Choose from a black or brass finish. Made to fit either 1.5” or 1.25” belt widths. Typically made to order.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are identical. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries.

A circular prong-style belt buckle textured with a ball peened hammer. We love this classic forged texture due to the ‘faceted’ effect it produces. Choose from a black or brass finish. Made to fit either 1.5” or 1.25” belt widths. Typically made to order.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are identical. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries.

A hand-forged, pure copper belt buckle and copper keeper paired with a hand-made belt strap from our favorite local leathersmith. We’ve teamed up with Tipperary Leatherworks out of Kalispell, Montana to provide a 100% Montana-made, high-quality belt kit. These kits are available as 1.5” wide belts and are made to size. Belts are made from 8/9 oz. water buffalo hide and are available in two colors: ‘Crazy Horse’ and ‘Golden Brown’ . The buckle is set into the turnback with copper rivets.

A hand-forged, pure copper belt buckle and copper keeper paired to pair with your favorite belt. These unique buckles are hand-forged from pure copper for 1.5” width belts. Includes forged copper keeper. Made to order.

A circular prong-style belt buckle with opposing chisel marks hammered into a forged ring to mark the four directions. This simple design will compliment any belt. Choose from a black or brass finish. Made to fit either 1.5” or 1.25” belt widths. Typically made to order.

Each belt buckle is hand-crafted in small batches using traditional blacksmithing techniques. The result is a unique piece where no two buckles are identical. Our belt buckles are 100% designed and hand-forged in western Montana.

Please visit our Belt Buckle Page for more details on styles, sizes and finishes.

Contact us for a specific style or size, custom work or wholesale inquiries.

We’ve teamed up with Tipperary Leatherworks out of Kalispell, Montana to provide 100% Montana-made, high-quality belts to pair with our buckles. Belts are made from 8/9 oz. water buffalo hide and are currently available in two colors: ‘Crazy Horse’ and ‘Golden Brown’. Belt straps are made with snaps to attach to existing buckles, unless they are paired with our copper belt buckle, then they are permanently fastened with copper rivets and a hand-forged copper keeper. Snap options are black or antique brass.

PLEASE NOTE: due to the natural tanning process and hide variations, there can be significant variations in color from hide to hide within a select color.

We’ve teamed up with Tipperary Leatherworks out of Kalispell, Montana to provide 100% Montana-made, high-quality belts to pair with our buckles. Belts are made from 8/9 oz. water buffalo hide and are currently available in two colors: ‘Crazy Horse’ and ‘Golden Brown’. Belt straps are made with snaps to attach to existing buckles, unless they are paired with our copper belt buckle, then they are permanently fastened with copper rivets and a hand-forged copper keeper. Snap options are black or antique brass.

PLEASE NOTE: due to the natural tanning process and hide variations, there can be significant variations in color from hide to hide within a select color.